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A seemingly uphill battle ends with a not-guilty verdict

On Behalf of | Dec 7, 2022 | Firm News

A large gathering of up to 800 college-aged people at a large outdoor party last March turned destructive. In the area of Pennsylvania Avenue and 10th street, the party, likely fueled by alcohol consumption, turned into chaos, with partygoers damaging property and flipping over cars.

The crowd soon turned its focus on an armored SWAT vehicle called on by the City of Boulder to disperse the crowd and cause significant damage, not to mention three officers were injured.

An arrest and subsequent trial

Social media pictures and videos showed Thomas Shade, a then-University of Colorado Boulder student, supposedly participating in flipping the vehicle. He was charged with felony criminal mischief in addition to misdemeanors, including engaging in a riot, tampering with a motor vehicle, and disobeying a public health order.

Shade was the sole defendant to take the case to trial. Subsequently, a jury found Shade not guilty. Boulder County District Attorney spokeswoman Shannon Carbone thanked the jury for their time and service.

Serious accusations and so-called “compelling” evidence do not mean that a criminal conviction is automatic. Diligent and dedicated representation by Sarah Anne Croog, a skilled and strategic attorney at Jurdem, LLC, helped to overcome the seemingly insurmountable obstacles his client faced.